Hollendorfer mulls running Songbird in Santa Ysabel

ARCADIA, Calif .- Songbird, the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2015, worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Santa Anita on Sunday for a potential start in the $100,000 Santa Ysabel Stakes on March 5.

Songbird won the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 6 in her 3-year-old debut. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Sunday that he is debating whether to start Songbird in the Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles as a prep for the $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks on April 9. Songbird’s main goal for the spring is the $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs on May 6.

“We’d have to consider” the Santa Ysabel, Hollendorfer said. “It’s a race in the middle to point for the Santa Anita Oaks. I haven’t made a decision yet.

“You have to have a good foundation if you want to get to your point race. Ours is the Kentucky Oaks.”

Sunday, Mike Smith worked Songbird, who exercised alone.

“It was very nice and easy,” Hollendorfer said. “She’s always trained very well. I can’t recall a time when she didn’t.”

Owned by Rick Porter, Songbird has won all five starts and earned $1,682,000.